Full Review

Ron Rubin

Ron Rubin
2023 Chardonnay, Carneros

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5%
91 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$29

Ron Rubin
2023 Chardonnay, Carneros

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Golden straw color. Aromas and flavors of lemon creme brulee, baked yellow apple, toasted baking spices, and grilled pineapple with a round, lively, dry medium body and a tingling, interesting, medium-long finish revealing accents of lemon creme brulee, ginger and baking spices, grilled pineapple, and yellow apple and apricot preserves with moderate oak flavor. The oak is definitely here but there is ample tropical fruit as well as zippy acidity to keep everything in balance and make this a Chardonnay that would also appeal to fans of Macon and richer white Burgundies.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: New World
Aroma Aroma: lemon creme brulee, baked yellow apple, toasted baking spices, and grilled pineapple
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with accents of lemon creme brulee, ginger and baking spices, grilled pineapple, and yellow apple and apricot preserves
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: The oak is definitely here but there is ample tropical fruit as well as zippy acidity to keep everything in balance and make this a Chardonnay that would also appeal to fans of Macon and richer white Burgundies.

The Producer

River Road Family Vineyards and Winery

The Producer
5220 Ross Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
USA
1 707-887-8130

Their Portfolio

92 Blue Bin 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, California 13% (USA) $15.00.
92 Blue Bin 2022 Vin Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $15.00.
88 Blue Bin 2022 Chardonnay, California 12.5% (USA) $15.00.
89 Blue Bin 2022 Pinot Grigio, California 12.5% (USA) $15.00.
86 Blue Bin 2023 Chardonnay, California 12.5% (USA) $14.00.
89 Blue Bin 2023 Pinot Grigio, California 12.5% (USA) $14.00.
86 Blue Bin 2023 Vin Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $14.00.
88 Blue Bin 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, California 12.5% (USA) $14.00.
88 Camino Del Rio 2023 Sin Roble, Chardonnay, California 12.5% (USA) $14.00.
89 Pam’s Un-Oaked 2021 Chardonnay, California 12.5% (USA) $14.00.
87 Pam’s Un-Oaked 2021 Chardonnay, California 12.5% (USA) $15.00.
87 Pam’s UN-Oaked 2022 Chardonnay, California 12.5% (USA) $14.00.
85 Pam’s UN-Oaked 2022 Chardonnay, California 12.5% (USA) $15.00.
88 Pam’s UN-Oaked 2022 Chardonnay, California 12.5% (USA) $15.00.
86 Pam’s Un-Oaked 2021 Un-Oaked, Cabernet Sauvignon, California 12.5% (USA) $16.00.
86 River Road 2019 Double Oaked, Chardonnay, California 14.8% (USA) $16.00.
87 River Road 2019 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $19.00.
94 River Road 2018 Stephanie’s Cuvee, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 14.3% (USA) $29.00.
85 River Road 2022 Double Oaked, Chardonnay, California 14.8% (USA) $16.00.
94 River Road 2023 Reserve, Pinot Meunier, Russian River Valley 13.7% (USA) $24.00.
88 Ron Rubin 2019 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.7% (USA) $20.00.
92 Ron Rubin 2019 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 14.3% (USA) $25.00.
92 Ron Rubin 2021 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 14.3% (USA) $24.00.
87 Ron Rubin 2019 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.7% (USA) $20.00.
93 Ron Rubin 2022 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.5% (USA) $19.00.
86 Ron Rubin 2022 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.5% (USA) $20.00.
87 Ron Rubin 2022 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.5% (USA) $20.00.
87 Ron Rubin 2022 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 13.7% (USA) $24.00.
88 Ron Rubin 2023 Chardonnay, Sonoma County 13.5% (USA) $19.00.
91 Ron Rubin 2023 Chardonnay, Carneros 14.5% (USA) $29.00.
87 Ron Rubin 2023 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.5% (USA) $20.00.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.